Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are characterized by cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and social disabilities. FASD are complex and pose many challenges for clinicians and researchers in the assessment, diagnosis, and intervention process. The variations in amount, timing, and frequency of alcohol that is consumed during pregnancy can produce a wide spectrum of deficits ranging from extremely debilitating impairments to subtle problems that can be easily misdiagnosed. This spectrum often creates confusion as symptoms may be very different between different children, thus making appropriate intervention elusive as well. Failure to accurately identify this population also reduces the opportunities to implement preventative programs. By informing the psychological community of the unique features of this population it is possible that this disorder may become more widely recognized and understood resulting in more accurate diagnoses and creative interventions to prenatal alcohol-related problems. More importantly, children diagnosed with FASD, and their caregivers, are more likely to be provided with the extra support and understanding their condition requires.

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